Turntable and mounting therefor



March 9, 1943. F. G. MANLY 2,313,084

TURNTABLE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Jan. 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Znl/'En DT March 9, 1943. G, MANLY 2,313,084

TURNTABLE AND MOUNTING THEREFOR Filed Jan. 16, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 OTr yf'eclf 6 Mangy.

Patented Mar. 9, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,313,084 l TURNTABLEAND MOUNTING THEREFOR Fred G. Manly, Chicago, ',Ill.

Application January 16, 1941, Serial No. 374,606

7 Claims. (Cl. 212-68) The present invention relatos to a novelturntable and more particularly to one adapted. for anti-frictionmounting at its periphery.

Turntables are usually constructed for mounting at their centers, such amounting usually constituting the means through which driving rotationis effected. This construction necessarily limits the effectiveness ofthe turntable in carrying heavy loads due to the unsupported weight fromits center to its periphery. Furthermore, power takeoff for othermechanisms is restricted to the centrally located shaft driving theturntable. By locating the driving mechanism centrally of the turntable,control mechanisms must necessarily be placed beyond the turntableperiphery in exposed, unsightly positions.

It is, therefore, an important object of this invention to provide aturntable construction mounted for rotation at its periphery wherebycontrol mechanisms or separate power drives are eective through its axisof rotation.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a turntableconstruction having driving means therefor adjacent its periphery.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of aturntable construction capable of rotatably supporting heavy loads atany position across its face.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of aturntable construction being so mounted as to minimize deflections whensubjected to heavy loads.

Another and still further object of the present invention is theprovision of a turntable construction having an anti-friction peripheralmounting constantly operating in lubricant and sealed against theentrance of foreign matter.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a turntable whichis simple in construction, durable and efficient in use, and which maybe readily assembled and disassembled.

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the presentinvention are set forth with par- K ticularity in the appended claims.The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and manner ofconstruction, together with further objects and advantages thereof, maybest be understood by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a View, partially in top plan elevation and partially inhorizontal section, taken substantially along the plane indicated by theline I-I of Figure 4 and illustrating a turntable Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view, with parts inelevation, taken substantially in the plane indicated by the line IV-IVof Figure 1 at an angle of 90 to the section plane of Figure 3.

In Figure 2 there is illustrated a tractor I0 carrying a swinging craneI I by means of a turntable construction I2 embodying the principles ofthe present invention.

As best shown in Figures l, 3 and 4, the turntable construction I2generally comprises an inner rotating member I 3, an outer stationarysupporting member I4, and a plurality of anti-friction members I5interposed therebetween.

The inner rotating member I3 is generally circular in shape (Figure 1)of flat metal having its peripheral portions I6 formed inverted U- shapefin (vertical cross section, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, for a purposeto be more fully explained hereinafter.

The outer edge of the rotating member I3 is formed as a thick rim I1 andis provided centrally of its outer surface with a load-carrying racewayI8.

A ring gear I9 is inserted within the U-shaped portions I8 to seatagainst the inside face of the rim I'l and is maintained in mountedposition by a plurality of c ap screws 20 (Figures 1, 3 and- 4).

It is to be noted that the vrim I'I and the adjacent leg 2I, forming theinverted U-shaped portion I6 provide strength along the direction of therotating axis to minimize deflections in the rotating member I3 whenrotated under load.

'Ihe centrally located web portion 22, connecting the inverted U-shapedperipheral portions of the rotating member I3, is provided with as manyopenings 23 as are necessary to properly balance the member forrotation. If desired a central aperture 24v may be provided to allowcontrol or additional driving mechanisms to be inserted therethroughwhich would be unaffected by the rotation of the member I3. Asillustrated inv Figures 3 and 4, a driving mechanism 25 may be insertedthrough the opening 24 for driving a mechanism such asY the swingingcrane II illustrated in Figure 2. It is to be understood. however, thatthe turntable construction embodying the principles of this invention isnot to be conilned only to use with swinging cranes as the turntableillustrated herein may be used wherever loads are to be rotated bypower. Furthermore, control rods or other mechanisms (not shown) may besubstituted for the driving mechanism 25, or, the aperture 24 may beenlarged to include therethrough both types of mechanisms.

The stationary supporting member I4 comprises a lower member 26 beingheld in stationary supporting position by channel-shaped members 21 and28. The channel-shaped members are connected to the downwardly extendinglegs 29 of the supporting member I4 by means of bolt and nut assemblies30 (Figure 3). If desired, the channel-shaped members 21 and 28. may beformed as integral portions ofthe supporting member 26.

The supporting member 26 is generally U- shaped in cross section havinga rim portion 3I of such diameter as to receive within and adjacentthereto in closely spaced relation the inner rotating member I3. A webportion 32 connects the rim portions 3| and is shaped to provide thedownwardly extending integral legs 29. Like the web of the innerrotating member I3, the web 32 may also be provided with a centralaperture 33 for receiving therethrough control or driving mechanisms, orthe like. In the present instance,- a driving mechanism in the form of abevel gear 34 is illustrated as extending through the aperture 33.

A plurality of bosses 35, 36 and 31 are provided on the web 32 to whichareconnected a driving mechanism 38, bolted or attached by othersuitable means (not shown), which is not described herein as it forms nopart of the present invention.

A pinion 39 is driven by the driving mechanism 38 and positioned withinthe inverted U-shaped portion I6 in a manner to have toothed engagementwith the ring gear I9. Rotation of the pinion 39 serves to drive theinner rotating member I3, as shown in Figures 1 and 4.

Suitable openings 40 are also provided in the member 26 through whichexcess lubricant, dirt or the likeA may drain.

An upper member 4I of the stationary supporting member I4 is formed as acap ring having a downwardly extending leg 42 of the same thickness anddiameter as the rim 3| of the lower supporting member 26. The adjacentsurfaces oi' the rim portions of the lower supporting member 26 and ofthe upper member 4 I are of stepped configuration as shown in thedrawings. This stepped configuration provides mating shoulders 4Ia, andthe resulting male .and female joint assures the same alignment betweenthe members whenever they are connected together. The cap ring 4I isconnected to the rim 3| by means of a plurality ofcap screws 43.

When the ring 4I is connected to the lower supporting member 26, aload-carrying raceway 44 is provided centrally of the connectiontherebetween to register with the raceway I8 provided in the rim of theinner rotating member I3 when the latter and the outer member I4 arepositioned as shown in Figures 3 and 4. It will be apparent that themaleand female joint between the members is necessary to assure properalignment of the surfaces of the raceway 44 whenever the members areconnected by the cap screws 43.

As shown in Figure 1, a plurality of spherical balls or anti-frictionmembers I5 are interposed between the registered raceways to oatinglysupport the inner rotating member I3 on and within the outer stationarysupporting member I4. A seal 45 of leather, fabric or similar materialis inserted within a suitable circumferentially extending vslot providedon the under side of the inwardly extending leg 48 of the cap ring 4I. Asimilar seal 41 is provided between the inner rotating member I3 and thestationary supporting member 28. The leather seals 45 and 41 serve toisolate the. anti-friction members II in a manner to seal lubricantconfined within the space provided between the inner member I3 and theouter member I4 and further seals the antifriction members from foreignmatter.

It `will be observed from lthe foregoing description that the presentinvention provides a novel turntable construction having a rotatableanti-friction mounting at its periphery for more eiliciently andproperly supporting loads whereby deections are reduced to a minimum.Furthermore. the construction permits other mechanisms, such for exampleas controls andadditional power drives, to be located and operatedthrough the central portion of the turntable without affecting itsrotation.

While a particular embodiment only of this invention has beenillustrated, it will, of course, be

understood that the invention should not be limited thereto since manymodifications may be made and, therefore, it is contemplated by theappended claims to cover all such modifications as fall within the truespirit and scope of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. A turntable construction comprising a rotatable member having araceway in the outer periphery thereof, a stationary supporting memberof U-shaped section surrounding the peripheral marginal edges of saidrotatable member in concentric spaced relation thereto and having araceway in the inner periphery thereof adapted to register with theraceway in the rotatable member, anti-friction bearing elements in saidraceways for maintaining the members in said spaced relation, and meansbetween the marginal edges of said rotatable member and the adjacentportions of the U-shaped section of the stationary member for sealingthe space between the members.

2. A turntable construction comprising a rotatable member having araceway 'in the outer periphery thereof, a stationary supporting memberof L-shaped section surrounding said rotatable member in concentricspaced relation thereto, one leg of said section being spaced from amarginal edge of said rotatable member and the other les of said sectionbeing spaced from the outer periphery of said rotatable member, a ringmember of L-shaped section detachably secured to said supporting member,one leg of said ring member being spaced from a marginal edge of saidrotatable member opposite to thev first mentioned marginal edge and theother leg of said ring member being seated on said other leg of thesupporting member, a raceway in said other legs of the ring member andthe supporting member adapted to register withvthe raceway in therotatable member, and anti-friction ball bearing elements in saidraceways i'or maintaining the rotatable member and the supporting memberand the connected ring member in said spaced relation.

3. A turntable construction comprising a rotatable load-carrying memberhaving a circumferentially extending inverted U-shaped portion at itsperiphery, the outer flange of said U-shaped portion forming a rimhaving a load-carrying raceway on the outer side thereof, a ring gear onthe inner side of said rim through which said load-carrying member isdriven, a stationary l member having a circumferentially extendingU-shaped portion at its periphery adjacent to.

and in spaced relation from said rim, the legs on the U-shaped portionof the stationary member overlapping opposite marginal edge portions ofsaid rim, the web on the U-shaped portion of the stationary memberhaving a load-carrying raceway on its inner side in registry with theraceway on said rim, and a plurality of antifriction members disposedin' said registered raceways.

4. A turntable construction comprising a rotatable circularload-carrying member having a circumferentially extending invertedU-shaped portion at its periphery for receiving a driving membertherein, said load-carrying member having at least one openingtherethrough for surrounding mechanisms unaffected by rotation of saidmember, an axially extending rim ange forming the outer edge of saidU-shaped portion having a load-carrying raceway on its outer side, aring gear on the inner side of said rim whereby said load-carryingmember is rotated by said rim, means for connecting said upper and lowersupporting members, said supporting member havinga load-carrying racewayformed at the connection between said upper and lower mem-` bers, aplurality of spherical balls disposed in said raceways, and sealingmeans between said load-carrying member and said supporting memberforisolating said spherical balls and retaining lubricant within the spacebetween said members.

5. A turntable con-struction comprising a rot-at.-`

able member having a raceway in the outer periphery thereof, astationary supporting member of U-shaped section surrounding theperipheral marginal edges of said rotatable member in concentric spacedrelation thereto and having a raceway in the inner periphery thereofadapted to register/with the raceway in the rotatable member,anti-friction bearing elements in said raceway for Amaintaining themembers in said spaced relation, said U-shaped section of the supportingmember being split through the annular raceway therein and radially withrespect to said rotatable member to provide ring portions each havingaxially spaced surfaces connected by a shoulder intermediate the innerand outer peripheries of the ring portion, means for clamping said ringportions together whereby the split surfaces and shoulders thereon seatagainst each other to align the split surfaces of the annular racewaytherein, and means between the marginal edges of said rotatable memberand the adrelation and movable relative to each other, said lringportion of the second member being split through the raceway thereinradially with respect to said rst member to provide mating male andfemale portions, and means for clamping said split ring portion wherebythe mating male and female portions coact to align the adjacent surfacesof the split raceway.

-7. An outer raceway for a turntable construction comprising a ringshaped member having an annular raceway in the inner periphery thereof,said ring shaped member being split radially through said annularraceway to provide ring portions each having Yaxially spaced surfacesconnected by qa shoulder intermediate the inner and outery peripheriesof the ring portion, and said ring shaped member also having internallythreaded openings extending axially thereof for receiving studs forconnecting the ring portions together whereby the split surfaces andshoulders thereon seat against each other to align the split surfaces oftheannular raceway.

FRED G. MANLY.

